top of page

Bernie Little Memorial

Brandt x2, Whyte, and Oord collect victories in Columbia Cup tune-up

Photo album by Digital Roostertails / Chris Denslow available HERE

All photos on this page by Digital Roostertails / Chris Denslow

For the second straight race, the Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered by Rattlesnake RC returned to the Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park in Ellensburg, WA, for a beautiful weekend of boat racing. Mother Nature blessed R/CU once again, as she held off the Sunday winds until just after the final heat. With the Columbia Cup in two weeks, this was the final tune up for R/CU's biggest summer race and nearly 50 boats were on hand over 4 classes to try to win the Bernie Little Memorial trophy.

1/10th Scale Electric Final

No video available.

1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Lexy Brandt

2nd: 1974 Miss U.S., Brooklyn Kinney

3rd: 2014 U-3, Aidyn Brandt

4th: 1988 Sutphen Spirit, Briana Burdsall

5th (DNF): 2017 Spirit of Detroit, Geoffry Grembowski

Girl power continued to reign in the 1/10th scale class, with Lexy Brandt taking her second victory in a row. Brooklyn Kinney capped another successful day with a 2nd, and Aidyn Brandt rounded out the podium with his new U-3.

Gas Scale Consolation

No video available.

1st: 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen

2nd: 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak (Roundnose), Ken Olson

3rd (DNS): 1974 Lincoln Thrift, Dave Englehart

Mike Henriksen missed the final by a scant 19 points, however he was still able to advance thru the consolation heat by beating the Pay'n Pak to the line. 

Gas Scale Final

1st: 1978 Miss Mark and Pak, Jim Whyte

2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

3rd: 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

4th (DNF): 1977 Charlie's Girl, Mike Henriksen

5th (DNS): 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt

6th (DNS): 1980 Candyman, Donn Lange

The Miss Rock inexplicably turned into the infield at the start, however it was Jim Whyte and the Mark and Pak in lane two who had the early lead and held it through turn one. Henry Oord and Bill Brandt gave valiant chase behind, but Jim's inside lane held true and allowed him to take his first victory of the year.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Consolation

No video available.

1st: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen

2nd: 2014 Graham Trucking, Wayne Beeson

DNF: 1975 Miss Technicolor, KC Andres

DNF: 1973 Miss Budweiser, Bobby Colean

DSQ: 2001 Znetix, Donn Lange

This was a largely chaotic race, with the youngster emerging from the wreckage in first. The Znetix hooked in a couple of buoys and cut off another boat, earning three penalties and a disqualification. The Budweiser lost its cowl in the front stretch and eventually would crash as well. The Miss Technicolor nailed the cowling on the next lap, kicking up the rudder and with no control, hit the Smokin' Joe's in the rear before shutting off. Conner shook off the contact and navigated around the debris to earn a spot in the final.

1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final

No video available.

1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

2nd: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen

3rd: 1994 Smokin' Joe's, Conner Henriksen

4th (DNF): 1977 Miss Esquire Products, Bill Brandt

5th (DNF): 1983 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin

6th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

7th (DNF): 1985 Miller American, Don Mock

The Atlas Van Lines jumped the gun at the start, while the top point scorers of the Miller and the Oh Boy! Oberto tangled going into the first turn. From the chaos emerged Henry Oord with the Miss Houston, and he held off Paxton in the Miss Rock to take his first victory of the year in the FE class.

 

1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation

No video available.

 

1st:  1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

2nd: 2012 Matrix Auto Systems, Brian Anderson

DNF: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Gary Grembowski

DNF: 1976 Olympia Beer, Steve Roman

DNF: 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

DNS: 1971 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Brent Edinger

The Olympia Beer held the early lead, with the Miss Circus Circus and Miss Stroh's Light chasing. The Oly took a big hop on lap two in the left turn, and the Circus made a tight turn on the buoys to take over the lead. It would be a lead he did not relinquish, as both the Olympia Beer and Miss Stroh's Light would catch a gust and crash later in the heat.

1/8th Scale Nitro Final

Video courtesy of the Rattlesnake RC page HERE.

1st: 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Dave Brandt

2nd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

3rd (DNF): 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

4th (DNF): 2016 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Putich

5th (DNF): 1972 Notre Dame, Paxton Reunanen

7th (DNS): 1976 Miss Vernor's, Kirk Maupin

The Miss Vernor's had unexpected trouble in the mill and did not answer the call to the 30 second mark, moving the Miss Circus Circus into the front line. The Circus and the 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto duelled for the inside lane, however the Oberto was too early and jumped the gun. From there, it was another bit of chaos, as the Notre Dame, Oberto, and Circus all succombed over the next four laps. In front, it was Trooper Dave, calmly holding steady at the lead and defending his Bernie Little Memorial crown while taking his third victory of the year.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 15-16

 

Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA

 

Previous Race Winners

Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 2004, 2006-2015, 2020, 2022-Present

Race held in Waughop Lake, Lakewood, WA 2021

Race held in Lake Silverado, Adna, WA 2016-2017

Race held in Mollala, OR 2005

 

Current-2020: winners shown as nitro // FE // gas

-2023: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-65) // Henry Oord (1983 Miss Houston) // Jim Whyte (1978 Miss Mark and Pak)

-2022: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-65) // Paxton Reunanen (1983 KISW Miss Rock) // Bill Brandt (1983 American Speedy Printing Blue) 

-2021: John Olson (1971 Country Boy) // Don Mock (1985 Miller American) // John Olson (1971 Country Boy) 

-2020: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) // Brad Lewis (1976 Spirit of Dayton Walther) // Brian Packer (1983 Miss Houston) 

2019-2013: winners shown as nitro // FE

-2019: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) // Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines) 

-2018: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) 

-2017: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-64) // Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) 

-2016: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) // Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) 

-2015: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) // Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) 

-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) // Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus) 

-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) // John Olson (1997 Close Call) 

 

Prior to 2013, no FE class run

-2012: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)

-2011: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)

-2010: Kirk Maupin (1975 Atlas Van Lines)

-2009: Steve Schmitz (1985 Squire Shop)

-2008: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)

-2007: David Newton (1985 Miss 7-Eleven)

-2006: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)

-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

 

bottom of page